Ariya roars back to claim Calgary lead

LOS ANGELES, California: Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn roared back to form with a superb eight-under-par 64 to claim a three-shot lead at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Friday.

She carded eight birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round which left her at 12 under for the tournament.

South Korea’s Chella Choi Woon-Jung had started the day in sole possession of the lead, completing her weather-disrupted first round to finish with a seven-under-par 65.

But Choi was unable to build on her lead in a rollercoaster second round, notching four birdies and three bogeys to finish with a one-under-par 71, four off the lead.

South Korea’s Chun In-Gee was three behind Ariya on nine under after a see-saw five-under-par round which included an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys. Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow — who lit up the first round with a 66 — was also three back after a second round 69.

Five players finished the second round on eight under, four adrift of the lead. They included New Zealand’s world number one and defending champion Lydia Ko, who is gunning for her fourth victory in the tournament.

Ko appeared to be building a head of steam with four birdies in a row between the ninth and 12th holes to move to nine under. But a bogey on the 14th checked her momentum as she finished the day four behind.